Album Review: Greg Koch Band - "Plays Well with Others"

Wisconsin-based
guitarist
Greg Koch is
a fiendishly
talented player
who not only
amazes with
his twisted blues sensibilities, but can
also disarm you with his legendary sense
of humor. He does this here by inviting
Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford, and Paul
Barrère to the party. Billed as by the Greg
Koch Band, Plays Well with Others is
more of a group effort than his previous
instrumental releases. Even after a casual
listen, you can hear this ensemble is a
well-unified entity that could lay waste to
any blues bar this side of Kenosha.

The slinky, legato run that opens
“Simone” is pure Koch—ear-twisting
intervals combined with a down-home
sensibility that’s equal parts Billy F.
Gibbons and Joe Satriani. Bonamassa
steps in for a chorus before trading with
Koch, and in typical fashion, executes
perfect EJ-esque runs with a bluesy
bent. Jazz-bopper Robben Ford adds
his unique, sophisticated lines on three
cuts, including the strongest track on the
album, “Walk Before You Crawl.” This
album finally shows Koch in his most
accessible context, as part of a rock-solid
blues band. This album is bound to
spread Koch’s reputation past Summerfest
crowds and NAMM geeks who surf
YouTube demo videos.

Must-hear track: “Walk Before You Crawl”

Since attending a Dave Matthews Band concert as a teenager, Jason has been into all things guitar. An Iowa native, Jason has degrees in Music Business from Minnesota State-Mankato and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Iowa. Since then, he has spent time doing everything from promotion at an indie music label to organizing guitar workshops all over the country. Currently, Jason lives with his wife, son, and daughter in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.